In 2018 author Emma Newman will return to the captivating Planetfall universe with Before Mars, a standalone dark tale of a woman stationed on Mars who starts to doubt her own memories and sanity.

Anna Kubrick finally arrives on Mars, after six months of travel, for her new job as a geologist and de facto artist-in-residence. Already she feels like she is losing the connection with her husband and baby at home on Earth. She tries to bond as much as she can with the five others in the station, and get on with her work.

After only a few days, Anna finds a mysterious note written in her own handwriting, warning her not to trust the colony neurophysiologist or psychologist. But there’s just one problem: She doesn’t remember writing it. She also can’t remember what happened to her wedding ring—or where the fake replacement came from. Or how her footprints ended up in a place that she has no memory of going to.

When one of her coworkers dies, Anna must delve deeper into these mysteries—despite her fears that she may be going insane, regardless of what horrors she may encounter, and what they may do to her rapidly-splintering mind.

Photo by Lou Abercrombie

Before Mars will be out from Ace/Roc in April 2018, with another installment in the Planetfall universe following quickly in January 2019!

“Emma Newman is a rising star in science fiction and I’m beyond thrilled to be working with her again,” said Emma’s editor Rebecca Brewer. “Emma’s books combine an insightful look of what our future might bring, amazing characters, and the best psychological portraits that I’ve seen in years. These next two books promise to do the same. When I first heard Emma’s ideas for these books, I knew that the world needed these books, as did I.”